Through his poems Wiji Thukul put moral fibre into the civil society movements in Indonesia in the heightened period of transition to democracy in 1996-1998. But he was among the casualties of the movement. He disappeared and was allegedly murdered in a military attack against a labour protest in late 1997. But his spirit never dies. His famous line ’hanya ada satu kata, lawan!’ (there is only one word, resist!) became his memorial and legacy to the reformasi generation, i.e. those who were part of the social movement aiming at political reform and democratisation in Indonesia (Curtis, 2000). The line is still often seen in pamphlets and posters of various demonstrations today. Thukul is certainly a hero, not only to the particular labour movement that he came from, but also to a broad spectrum of civil society movements in the country. Many other activists ended up like Thukul, missing and presumed murdered. But they represented what civil society in Indonesia wanted: democracy, political reform, freedom from oppression, and participation political and developmental decision making.

… and thanks for the correction ..! i could have been clearer in the “box” as in the “main text” – i clarify this in the wordpress. again thanks. and have a good weekend! (manchester is freezing cold!)

Dynamics of CSO? I have a clear idea. I don’t even know what is CSO. Tried to find in google, is it central statistics office of ireland? Caltech Submiliter Observatory? Chicago Symphony Orchestra? Hmm… totally lost..